Learning disabilities diagnostic system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a learning disabilities diagnostic system in which a remote station includes a visual assessment component and an auditory assessment component. A diagnostic station is coupled by a communication interface to the remote station. The diagnostic station receives the visual assessment component and auditory assessment component and prepares an assessment based on the information received. Accordingly, the diagnostic system allows a user to complete visual assessment tests and auditory assessment tests in their own environment for prescreening of learning disabilities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a learning disabilitiesdiagnostic system in which a remote visual assessment component and anauditory assessment component are forwarded to the system and the systemprepares an assessment based on the visual assessment component andauditory assessment component.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Nearly 20% (1 in 5) of the nation's children between the ages of5 and 12 may be challenged by one or more learning disabilities. This isan astonishingly large number of children, vastly beyond thecapabilities and resources of most school systems to properly identifylearning disabilities or to adequately provide for them. Many teachers,already burdened by classroom overcrowding and sheer class size, aresimply unable to offer the time and attention required to help thesechildren when they need it most, i.e., while they are still young enoughto be aided without stigma or social labeling. Accordingly, it isdesirable for parents to have options to test for learning disabilitiesoutside of the school system.

[0005] Conventionally trained medical personnel have performed tests attheir offices to assess children with learning disabilities. However,the provided medical tests can be expensive and the children are oftenuncomfortable in the medical surroundings leading to impairedperformance on the tests. It is desirable to provide aneasily-administerable remote testing environment to inexpensivelyprovide pre-screening of learning disabilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention relates to a learning disabilitiesdiagnostic system in which a remote station includes a visual assessmentcomponent and an auditory assessment component. A diagnostic station iscoupled by a communication interface to the remote station. Thediagnostic system receives the visual assessment component and auditoryassessment component and prepares an assessment based on the informationreceived Accordingly, the diagnostic system allows a user to completevisual assessment tests and auditory assessment tests in their ownenvironment for prescreening of learning disabilities. The inventionwill be more fully described by reference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0007]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a learning disabilitiesdiagnostic system in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferredembodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numeralswill be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to thesame or like parts.

[0009]FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a learning disabilitiesdiagnostic system 10 in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention. Remote station 12 is coupled through communication interface14 to diagnostic station 16. For example, remote station 12 can belocated at a home of the test subject or a classroom of the test subjectand diagnostic station 16 can be located at a medical specialist'soffice.

[0010] Remote station 12 can comprise visual assessment component 17 andauditory assessment component 18. Communication interface 14 can includea connection for visual assessment component 17 and a connection forauditory assessment component 18. For example, diagnostic station 16 canbe accessed as a Website and communication interface 14 can comprise anInternet connection for establishing a communication path between remotestation 12 and a Web site for diagnostic station 16. Alternatively,communication interface 14 can be a postal mail connection or telephoneconnection.

[0011] Visual assessment component 17 provides testing of visual motorskills. For example, visual assessment component can include diagnostictests which provide information for evaluating learning disabilities invisual components. An implementation of visual assessment component 17can include pen and paper tests in which a user completes the test bywriting in answers to questions or preparing drawings. The pen and papertests can be scanned by a conventional scanner to represent the data inelectronic form. Alternatively, tests for visual assessment can beprovided as a template on a user's computer which is completed by a useror a parent of the user using a keyboard and a mouse interface to thecomputer.

[0012] Tests for visual assessment component 17 are forwarded overcommunication interface 14 to diagnostic system 16 for evaluation. Forexample, if remote station 12 includes a personal computer, data fromtests of visual assessment component 17 can be electronically forwardedfrom diagnostic station 16 such as over the Internet or a dial up modemconnection. In the alternative, data from tests for visual assessmentcomponent 17 can be forwarded by postal mail from remote station 12 todiagnostic station 16. If remote station 12 includes a scanner or faxdevice, scanned test responses, drawing responses and the like formingelectronic data can be electronically forwarded from remote station 12to diagnostic system 16.

[0013] An implementation of auditory assessment component 18 can includean interactive voice response (IVR) system 20. Communication interface14 further comprises a telephone communications network to connectauditory assessment component 18 to diagnostic station 16. IVR system 20can record auditory responses at the IVR system 20 such that a user ofdiagnostic station 16 can later retrieve the auditory responses forevaluation by establishing a telephone connection to IVR system 20.Alternatively, communication interface 14 can also comprise an Internetconnection between auditory assessment component 17 and a Web site ofdiagnostic system 16. IVR system 20 can store the auditory responses asa WAV or similar sound file at the Web site of diagnostic station 16such that a user of diagnostic station 16 can later retrieve the storedauditory responses over the Internet. Auditory assessment component 18can provide, for example, testing of auditory discrimination andauditory memory for evaluating learning disabilities in auditorycomponents.

[0014] Diagnostic station 16 uses evaluation of the tests from visualassessment component 17 and audio assessment component 18 to provide anassessment of potential learning disabilities of the test subject. Forexample, diagnostic station 16 can include a computer for automaticallyevaluating test responses or a medical specialist's review of testresponses. A report outlining the assessment can be generated bydiagnostic station 16. The report can be forwarded by email or postalmail to remote station 12.

[0015] In general, system 10 provides a low-cost, pre-screeningassessment for identifying possible Learning Disabilities (LD) inchildren ages 5 and older. It is designed to be done by the child withparental assistance in the convenience and privacy of home, and consistsof a combination of print materials delivered either via the internet orpostal mail, and an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system that oneconnects to by phone.

[0016] It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments areillustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodimentswhich can represent applications of the principles of the invention.Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised inaccordance with these principles by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A learning disabilities diagnostic system comprising: aremote station, said remote station comprising a visual assessmentcomponent and an auditory assessment component; and a diagnostic stationcoupled by a communication interface to said remote station, saiddiagnostic station receiving first information from said visualassessment component and second information from said auditoryassessment component, said diagnostic station preparing an assessmentbased on said information received from said visual assessment componentand said auditory assessment component.
 2. The system of claim 1 whereinsaid remote system includes a computer and said visual assessmentcomponent includes a test represented by a template on said computer,wherein data entered in said template is forwarded to said communicationlink.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein said communication interfacecomprises an Internet connection for establishing a communication pathbetween said computer of said remote station and said diagnosticstation.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein said visual assessmentcomponent includes pen and paper tests and a user completes the tests bywriting answers to questions or preparing a drawing.
 5. The system ofclaim 4 wherein said communication link is a postal connection or atelephone connection.
 6. The system of claim 4 wherein said remotestation further comprises a scanner for scanning said pen and papertests and a computer.
 7. The system of claim 6 wherein saidcommunication interface comprises an Internet connection forestablishing a communication path between said computer of said remotestation and said diagnostic station.
 8. The system of claim 1 whereinsaid auditory assessment component includes an interactive voiceresponse system.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein said communicationinterface comprises a telephone communication network connecting saidaudio assessment component to said diagnostic station.
 10. The system ofclaim 8 wherein said communication network comprises an Internetconnection between a computer of said interactive voice responsivesystem and said diagnostic station.
 11. The system of claim 1 whereinsaid diagnostic station further comprises means for generating a reportof an assessment of a user of the system based on said visual assessmentcomponent and said auditory assessment component.
 12. A method fordiagnosing learning disabilities comprising the steps of: providing aremote station; determining a visual assessment component and anauditory assessment component at said remote station; communicatingfirst information of said visual assessment component and secondinformation of said auditory assessment component to a diagnosticstation; and preparing at said diagnostic station an assessment based onsaid first information and said second information.
 13. The method ofclaim 12 wherein said remote station includes a computer and said visualassessment component includes a test represented by a template on saidcomputer.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said communicating step isperformed by an Internet connection between said remote station and saiddiagnostic station.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein said auditoryassessment component includes an interactive voice response system. 16.The method of claim 15 wherein said communicating step is performed byan Internet connection between said auditory assessment component andsaid diagnostic station.
 17. The method of claim 12 further comprisingthe step of: generating a report of an assessment of a user of thesystem based on said visual assessment component and said auditoryassessment component.